How to Link a PDF in WordPress? (Easy and Fast)

I often need to share PDF documents on my WordPress site for many purposes, like a report or a form for visitors to download. At first, I wasn’t sure how to link a PDF in WordPress, but soon I found it quite straightforward. In this article, I’ll walk you through adding a PDF link to your WordPress content and embedding a PDF file directly into its page.

First, I'll show you how to generate a shareable PDF link. You can execute this link generation via a handy tool called UPDF, and by using the built-in WordPress Media Library. Then, you'll get to know how to embed a PDF in your WordPress post so that readers can view the document without leaving your site.

Part 1. How to Add PDF Link to WordPress?

The very first step to add a PDF link to WordPress is to generate a shareable link for your PDF file. This link makes it possible to insert or share the PDF on your site. You can create it either by using a third-party tool or by uploading the file directly through WordPress’s Media Library.

Method 1. Use UPDF to Generate a PDF Link

I recommend using UPDF to create the PDF link because it’s easy and gives me greater control over how the PDF is shared. UPDF is a powerful PDF editor that also has a built-in share feature. I can upload my PDF to UPDF’s cloud and get a shareable link, all within a few clicks.

The best part is that I can set permissions on that link. Plus, UPDF lets me unshare the file anytime, which means I can revoke access later if needed.

Feel free to download UPDF here and try it yourself. Here’s how I use UPDF to generate a PDF link and add it to WordPress:

How to Generate a Shareable PDF Link Using UPDF:

Step 1. Open Your PDF in UPDF

Download and install UPDF for your device and launch the application. Then, click the “Open File” button and select your PDF to access it.

Step 2. Access the Share Button

Once the PDF is open, click the dropdown icon from the top of the right-hand toolbar and hit “UPDF Share”.

Step 3. Create the PDF Link

Now, click the “Create Link” button and your PDF will be uploaded to the UPDF Cloud.

Step 3. Adjust Share Settings

In the share panel, stay on the “UPDF Share” tab to customize how the link will behave:

• Set a password: Enable the Password option for extra security and set a password for the PDF.

• Expiration time: You can choose an expiration schedule for the link or never expire.

• Unshare toggle: UPDF has an “Unshare File” option that means you can manually revoke access.

Step 4. Copy the Generated Link

After setting the desired options, hit the “Copy” button to copy it to the clipboard.

How to Insert the PDF link into WordPress:

Step 1. Open the Post/Page and Edit

Log in to WordPress, go to the required “Post” from the left panel, and click “Edit” to open the content editor.

Step 2. Select Text and Access Link Option

There, highlight the linkable text (e.g., “download our PDF guide”) and click the “Link” icon.

Step 3. Add the PDF Link

Now, paste the UPDF share URL in the prompt box, and hit “Enter” to add the link.

Step 3. Update WordPress Page

Finally, click “Save,” and the text will become clickable. You can open the PDF in the UPDF web viewer with your chosen settings.

Why Use UPDF?

Aside from sharing links, I use UPDF because it’s a complete PDF solution that helps me prepare documents before publishing or linking them. Here are some of the standout features of UPDF:

• Create & Edit PDFs: I can edit text, change styles, and add or replace images just like in Word.
• Annotate & Comment: Highlight text, add notes, shapes, or underlines for reviews or collaboration.
• Convert & OCR: Convert PDFs into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or images with high accuracy. Its OCR even makes scanned files editable and searchable.
• Protect Files: Add passwords, set permissions, or redact sensitive info permanently.
• Organize Pages: Rearrange, merge, delete, or add pages to tidy up before sharing.
• Cross-Platform & Sync: Use it on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android with one license. Files sync via UPDF Cloud so I always have the latest version across devices.

If you’re curious to see UPDF in action, you can watch this short video below which demonstrates UPDF sharing. Besides, you can read this AppleInsider review about UPDF 2.0 for a better apprehension.

Method 2. Use WordPress Media Library to Add a PDF Link

You can also rely on WordPress’s built-in Media Library if you don’t want to use an external tool. Once you upload a PDF, it gets its own URL on your site that you can link to. However, you won’t be able to perform built-in PDF editing features or customizations that UPDF offers.

Here’s how to link to a PDF on WordPress via Media Library:

Step 1. Upload the PDF

Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to “Media”. Then, click “Add Media File” and then the “Select Files” button to upload the PDF.

Step 2. Copy the PDF URL

After uploading, click the file in the Media Library. On the detail screen, click “Copy URL to clipboard” shown on the right.

Step 3. Insert the Link in Your Content

Go to your post or page editor. Highlight the text (e.g., “download our PDF guide”) and click the “Link” icon. Paste the copied URL and apply.

Step 4. Publish/Update the Page

Save your changes via the “Save” button, and the PDF will be successfully linked to the anchor text.

Now that we’ve covered adding a PDF link via a direct URL, let's explore how to embed a PDF in WordPress so the document is displayed on the page itself.

Part 2. How to Link a PDF in WordPress via Embedding

Instead of just adding a download link, you may also want the PDF to display directly in your post. WordPress makes this easy with the File block in the Gutenberg editor. Here’s how to embed a PDF in your page:

Step 1. Start by opening the post or page in the editor. Click the “+” button, navigate to “File” in the Media section, and click it.

Step 2. Next, click “Upload” and select the PDF you want to embed here.

Step 3. To display the PDF inline, go to “PDF Settings” in the right panel and toggle “Show inline embed”.

Step 4. Now, hit the “Save” button, and the PDF will appear as an embedded viewer.

In the End

Overall, learning how to link a PDF in WordPress gives you optimum flexibility in how you share content. For example, you can use a clickable link or the embedding technique directly via WordPress. Its built-in Media Library and File block are great for quick solutions.

However, UPDF adds extra benefits like editing, annotating, and secure sharing with a password and expiration options. From my own experience, UPDF makes managing PDFs smoother and safer, especially when I want control over who can access the file.

If you regularly work with documents, UPDF is a smart investment to prepare and share PDFs with confidence. Download UPDF right away and take advantage of its free trial!